Directing Approaches from Contemporary Chilean Women
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EXPANDING THEATRE: DIRECTING APPROACHES FROM CONTEMPORARY CHILEAN WOMEN DIRECTORS A THESIS IN Theatre Presented to the Faculty of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF ARTS by MARY ALLISON JOSEPH B.A., University of South Carolina, 2009 Kansas City, Missouri 2020 © 2020 MARY ALLISON JOSEPH ALL RIGHTS RESERVED EXPANDING THEATRE: DIRECTING APPROACHES FROM CONTEMPORARY CHILEAN WOMEN DIRECTORS Mary Allison Joseph, Candidate for the Master of Arts Degree University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2020 ABSTRACT This thesis examines the careers, theatrical ideologies, and directing methodologies of three contemporary Chilean women stage directors: Andrea Giadach, Alexandra von Hummel, and Ignacia González. Respective chapters provide an overview of each director’s career that includes mention of formative moments. Each chapter also includes a synthesis of the director’s thinking as distilled from personal interviews and theoretical works, followed by a methodological case study that allows for analysis of specific directing methods, thus illuminating the director’s beliefs in action. In each chapter, the author asserts that the director’s innovative thinking and creative practices constitute expansions of the theatrical artform. Finally, the author traces similarities across the directing approaches of the three directors, which suggest guiding ideas for expanding the theatrical artform. Chapter one explores the directing career of Andrea Giadach, with highlights including her acting experiences in La lluvia de verano (2005) and Mateluna (2012) and her iii directing projects Mi mundo patria (2008) and Penélope ya no espera (2014). Her beliefs about political theatre are illuminated through a directing case study of her 2019 production of El Círculo. Chapter two delves into the directing career of Alexandra von Hummel, with highlights including her co-direction of La tercera obra (2005), her direction of Persiguiendo a Nora Helmer (2012), and her classroom direction of Angels in America (2006). As Von Hummel often co-directs within her theatre company Teatro La María, co-directing methods are explored in an abbreviated case study of El hotel (2016). Her beliefs about theatre are illuminated through a directing case study of her 2018 production of Franco. Chapter three examines the directing career of Ignacia González, with highlights including her directing projects La fábrica de vidrio (2015), Telepatía, la nostalgia del cuerpo (2016), and Ella y los cerdos (2019), in addition to her experiences as a participant in and creator of research-based theatre companies and her teaching assistantship with Manuela Infante. Her thinking about theatre is illuminated through a directing case study of her Punto ciego (2018). iv APPROVAL PAGE The faculty listed below, appointed by the Dean of the Conservatory have examined a thesis titled “Expanding Theatre: Directing Approaches from Contemporary Chilean Women Directors,” presented by Mary Allison Joseph, candidate for the Master of Arts degree, and certify that in their opinion it is worthy of acceptance. Supervisory Committee Felicia Hardison Londré, Ph.D., Committee Chair Department of Theatre Stephanie Roberts, M.F.A. Department of Theatre Scott Stackhouse, M.F.A. Department of Theatre v CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ................................................................................................ ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... xiii Chapter INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 Literature Review .............................................................................................................. 1 Research Methods ............................................................................................................. 4 Selection ........................................................................................................................... 5 Analytical and Writing Methods ........................................................................................ 8 Results .............................................................................................................................. 9 1. ANDREA GIADACH: DIRECTING SUBJECTIVE MOVEMENT ............................... 11 Giadach’s Career ............................................................................................................. 11 Core Beliefs about Theatre: Hegemonies and Subjective Movement ................................ 30 Directing Case Study: El Círculo ..................................................................................... 41 Giadach’s Expansion of Theatre ...................................................................................... 86 2. ALEXANDRA VON HUMMEL: DIRECTING FROM DESIRE ................................... 88 Von Hummel’s Career ..................................................................................................... 88 vi Core Beliefs about Theatre: Material Relationships and Sensations of Reality ............... 102 Co-Directing Methods within Teatro La María: Desires and Conversation..................... 109 Directing Case Study: Franco ....................................................................................... 114 Von Hummel’s Expansion of Theatre ............................................................................ 142 3. IGNACIA GONZÁLEZ: DIRECTING PERCEPTUAL EXPERIENCES ..................... 143 González’s Career ......................................................................................................... 143 Core Beliefs about Theatre: Speculation and Perceptual Experiences ............................ 166 Directing Case Study: Punto ciego ................................................................................ 171 González’s Expansion of Theatre .................................................................................. 213 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 215 Appendix A.1. Andrea Giadach’s Directing and Playwriting Credits ................................................. 218 A.2. Complete Credits for Andrea Giadach’s Highlighted Works ...................................... 221 A.3. Marketing Materials for Andrea Giadach’s Productions ............................................. 223 B.1. Teatro La María Production History ........................................................................... 227 B.2. Alexandra von Hummel’s Professional Directing Credits ........................................... 231 B.3. Complete Credits for Alexandra von Hummel’s Highlighted Works .......................... 234 vii B.4. Marketing Materials for Alexandra von Hummel’s Highlighted Productions .............. 235 C.1. Ignacia González’s Directing and Assistant Directing Credits .................................... 239 C.2. Complete Credits for Ignacia González’s Highlighted Works ..................................... 241 C.3. Marketing Materials for Ignacia González’s Productions ........................................... 242 NOTES ............................................................................................................................. 245 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................258 VITA .....................................................................................................................................281 viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure Page 1. Andrea Giadach ............................................................................................................... 11 2. Moment with Ana from Mi mundo patria ........................................................................ 19 3. Moment with Anne from Mi mundo patria ...................................................................... 20 4. Moment with Anuar from Mi mundo patria ..................................................................... 21 5. Another moment with Anne from Mi mundo patria ......................................................... 22 6. Ten-year anniversary production of Mi mundo patria ...................................................... 23 7. Moment with Ana, ten-year anniversary production of Mi mundo patria ......................... 24 8. New set design, ten-year anniversary production of Mi mundo patria .............................. 25 9. Set of Penélope ya no espera ........................................................................................... 27 10. In a futuristic Chile in Penélope ya no espera ................................................................ 27 11. Late 19th-century Chile in Penélope ya no espera ......................................................... 28 12. Intersubjective communication in Penélope ya no espera .............................................. 28 13. Recreating archival photos in El Círculo........................................................................ 44 14. Living room setting in El Círculo .................................................................................. 44 15. Attacking and resisting in El Círculo ............................................................................